African violet plant

ABSTRACT

An African violet plant known by the cultivar name Improved Maine and characterized by its profuse blooming habit, with 10 or more flower stems carrying up to 9-12 or more flowers per stem, each of which is basically white, but tipped with blue. Improved Maine blooms essentially continuously, as is further characterized by its compact, uniform and vigorous growth habit. An attractive saleable plant is provided within 8-9 weeks after potting.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Improved Maine.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation d 240/4, and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The basic objective of the breeding program was tocreate a new African violet cultivar having a white flowered tipped ortinged with blue. Essentially pure white, star-shaped flowers are shownin my U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,350, granted Dec. 19, 1978, for the cultivarname Maine. The purpose of the present breeding program was to obtain avariety having the same white color, with blue tipping or tinging.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, West Germany. The female, or seed parentwas a cultivar designated b 1287 blue-white star. The male, or pollenparent was a cultivar designated 26 Z.

The new cultivar Improved Maine was discovered and selected by me as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Isselburg, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by leaf cuttings and by division of shoots, as performed by meat Isselburg, West Germany, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Improved Maine has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Isselburg, West Germany, under greenhouseconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Improved Maine, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cutlivar:

1. Compact growth habit.

2. Profuse blooming; 10 or more flower stems with 9-12 or more flowersper stem.

3. Single flowers with occasional additional petal.

4. White flower color, but tipped with blue.

5. Uniform in growth.

6. Attractive saleable plant within 8-9 weeks; in full bloom 10-11 weeksafter potting.

7. Vigorous grower.

8. Blooms essentially continuously.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to theHorticultural Colour Chart (HCC) issued by Wilson Colour Ltd., exceptwhere general colors of ordinary significance are referred to. Colorvalues were taken under natural light conditions approximately mid-dayin Isselburg, West Germany.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv. ImprovedMaine.

Parentage:

Male parent.--26 Z.

Female parent.--b 1287 blue-white star.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 8 cm. to 10 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately24-25 cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves:

General form.--Heart-shaped.

Diameter.--60 mm.

Texture.--Soft and hairy.

Aspect.--Velvety, slightly shiny.

Veins.--Upperside visible; underside well-pronounced, light green andshiny.

Color (upperside).--HCC parsley green 00962.

Color (underside).--HCC sage green 000861/2.

Petiole.--Bright green and hairy.

Flowers:

Buds.--Ball-shaped; 6 mm. just before opening; 9-12 or more per stem.

Sepals.--Color: Light green. Calyx: Funneled, flat. Aspect:Spear-shaped. Peduncle: Short, upright, brownish.

Individual flowers:

Size.--40-50 mm.

Color.--Upperside: Distinct white with Victoria violet, shades 738/3-0.Underside: Creamy white with shades of violet.

Borne.--Flower stem carries 9-12 or more flowers on normal peduncles;flowers tend to tilt down, and occasionally display an additional smallpetal in center of bloom, or even an extra petal.

Shape.--Conventional (2 small and 3 large petals).

Flowering time.--First flowers appear 7-8 weeks after potting; after10-11 weeks full flowering saleable plant.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--2-3 anthers, composed of 2 cells, with seed capsule slightlypushed through.

Anthers.--HCC sulphur yellow 1/2.

Filaments.--3 mm. long; yellowish green.

Styles.--6 mm. glossy purple with white sigma; base of ovary brightgreen and hairy.

Pollen color.--HCC sulphur 1/3.

Roots: White when young and active; greenish brown when older; normallydeveloped.

Disease resistance: Good as experienced to date.

General observations: Improved Maine is a vigorous grower with a profuseloose corolla of white blossoms tipped with blue. The older flower stemstend to tilt sidewards to make room for younger stems coming fromcenter. This variety blooms almost continuously, and its flowers arelong-lasting and non-dropping.

I claim:
 1. A new cultivar of African violet known by the cultivar nameImproved Maine and characterized by the combined features of profuseblooming habit, with ten or more flower stems carrying up to 9-12 ormore flowers per stem, with the flowers being basically white but tippedwith blue; single flower form, with an occasional additional petal,frequently in the center; uniform, compact and vigorous growth habit,essentially continuous blooming, and by its ability to provide anattractive saleable plant within 8-9 weeks after potting.